Method of decorating a fabric article

ABSTRACT

A method of decorating a fabric article such as a t-shirt or sweatshirt. The method comprises the steps of first creating a design upon the surface of the article, for example by applying a heat transfer to the article, then coloring the design using a washable ink and finally washing the fabric so that the ink is removed from the fabric article but the colorable design is retained. In this manner the present invention provides a method of providing a fabric article with a design that may be temporarily colored, washed, and then re-colored in a substantially different manner if the user so wishes. The method is particularly suitable for use with cotton fabric articles. Washable ink pens are preferred for colorizing the design.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

It is often desirable to provide a fabric article with a colorful decorative design. For example, t-shirts and sweatshirts are often provided with colorful decorative designs on their front. Designs may be provided on fabric articles using any of a large number of well-known and well-understood methods. For example, heat transfers may be used to permanently apply a design to a surface of a fabric article.

Currently, only permanently colored designs are applied to fabric articles. That is, once a design has been applied to an article there is no available method or means for easily and temporarily altering the color of a design. If a fabric article with a differently colored design is desired, the desired design must be applied to a separate fabric article. Therefore, there is a need for a method of decorating a fabric article that enables a temporarily colored design to be provided upon a surface of the fabric article and wherein the coloring of the design may be altered, if it is desired to do so.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a method of decorating a fabric article comprising the steps of: creating a colorable design upon a surface of the fabric article; coloring the colorable design using a suitable washable ink; and washing the fabric article such that the suitable washable ink is removed from the fabric article but the colorable design is maintained upon the surface of the fabric article.

The present invention is particularly advantageous as it allows one to provide a design upon a fabric article that may be colored as is desired. That is, a design may be colored in a first manner on a first occasion, the fabric article may then be washed to remove the initial coloring and then re-colored in either the same or a different manner depending upon an individual's preferences at that time. This process may be repeated as many times as is desired. Furthermore, the method of the present invention provides entertainment. In particular, the process of coloring a design according to the method of the present invention is an artistic and entertaining activity.

Substantially any fabric article may be decorated using the method of the present invention. However, the method is particularly suitable for decorating items of clothing such as t-shirts or sweatshirts. Similarly, the fabric of the fabric articles used in the method of the present invention may comprise substantially any known fabric material. However, the method of the present invention is particularly suitable for use with cotton fabric articles.

The washable ink used in the method of the present invention must be a suitable washable ink. That is, the ink must be suitable for coloring the material of the colorable design in a washable manner and after washing the colorable design the ink must be substantially entirely removed from the design. For example, if the colorable design is formed by a heat transfer the ink must be suitable for coloring the material of the heat transfer, preferably without leaching out and staining the material of the fabric article upon which the colorable design is provided.

After coloring with the washable fabric ink, the colorable design may be washed in any conventional manner. Preferably, washing with water alone is sufficient to remove the washable ink from the colorable design. However, an ink that may be removed from a colorable design using a detergent or other commonly available cleaning medium may also be suitable.

The suitable washable ink used in the method of the present invention may be provided in substantially any form. For example, the ink may be in paint form or supplied as in the same manner as any other ink. However, it may be more convenient if the ink is provided in a convenient and easy to use form. For example, it is preferable that pens containing the suitable washable ink are used to color the colorable design. The pens may be felt-tip pens. The pens may contain ink that can be washed from the colorable design using only water.

As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, a colorable design may be created upon a surface of a fabric article according to the present invention using any suitable conventional method. However, it may be preferred that the design is provided using a transfer. This may be advantageous as it is a simple, consistent, and well-known method that allows white or light-colored regions to be created easily upon black or dark-colored fabric articles. This is beneficial as white or light-colored regions are easier to color using a suitable washable ink. If a transfer is used to decorate a fabric article according to the method of the present invention it may be further preferred that the transfer is a heat transfer. If a colorable design is created using a transfer it will be understood that the transfer should comprise a material that can be easily colored using a suitable washable ink.

It is preferable that the design created upon the surface of the fabric article comprises a plurality of demarcated colorable regions. This is advantageous as any such design may be simply and easily colored by coloring in each demarcated region a suitable, possibly different, color. In this manner, a pleasing colored design may be created even by relatively artistically unskilled individuals. In particular, the presence of demarcated colorable regions may make it easier for children to color in a design. The colorable regions should be a light color, e.g. white, that allows them to be easily colored using suitable washable ink. Preferably, any white colorable regions will be demarcated by darker outlines. For example, these dark outlines may be black.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the drawings and description of aspecific embodiment of the invention set out below.

These aspects of the invention are not meant to be exclusive and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when read in conjunction with the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of embodiments, taken together with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a blank t-shirt as may be used in the method of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the t-shirt of FIG. 1 after it has had a colorable design applied to its surface according to the method of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 shows the t-shirt of FIG. 1 after the colorable design has been colored in using a suitable washable ink.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

According to an embodiment of the method of the present invention, a user will begin with a plain t-shirt 1, as shown in FIG. 1. The t-shirt 1 may be either white or colored but in the illustrated embodiment the t-shirt is colored. The user will then apply a heat transfer 2 to the t-shirt using any suitable method. The t-shirt may be sold with the transfer already applied or the heat transfer may be applied by the end-user. The heat transfer 2 creates a colorable design upon the front surface of the t-shirt, in this case a smiley face, as shown in FIG. 2. The colorable design comprises a plurality of white colorable regions 3 that are demarcated by black outlines 4.

The colorable design may then be colored in using a suitable washable ink that can color the material of the heat transfer in order to create a colored design, as shown in FIG. 3. The suitable washable ink may be applied by using pens. The ink temporarily colors the material of the heat transfer to create a colorful and unique t-shirt 1 for a wearer. The suitable washable ink is such that it colors the material of the heat transfer without leaching out of the t-shirt 1 onto other fabric items.

After the t-shirt 1 has been worn, or if the person coloring the colorable design is not happy with the result of their coloring, the t-shirt may be washed in a conventional manner to remove any fabric ink from the design. After washing, the t-shirt 1 will return to the state shown in FIG. 2. That is, the colorable design will remain upon the surface of the t-shirt and, other than the removal of the fabric ink, will be substantially unaffected by the washing process. After washing, the t-shirt may then be re-colored using suitable fabric ink, as described above.

In the manner set out above, the method of the present invention may provide a t-shirt that can be colored in an almost infinite number of ways depending upon the colourer's preference. Furthermore, as the coloring is only temporary and is removed by washing, a wearer can tailor the colors of the design to their own preferences on the day the t-shirt is worn.

While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. 

1. A method of decorating a fabric article comprising the steps of: creating a colorable design upon a surface of the fabric article by applying a transfer to the surface of the fabric article, the colorable design including a plurality of demarcated white or light-colored colorable regions of the transfer; coloring the colorable design using specific washable ink; and washing the fabric article such that the suitable washable ink is removed from the fabric article but the colorable design is maintained upon the surface of the fabric article.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the fabric article is a form of clothing of apparel.
 3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the fabric article is a t-shirt or a sweatshirt.
 4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the fabric article is made of cotton.
 5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the colorable design is colored using specific fabric pens.
 6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the colorable design is colored using pens containing the suitable washable ink.
 7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the colorable design is created by applying a special transfer to the surface of the fabric article.
 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the transfer is a heat transfer.
 9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the colorable design comprises a plurality of demarcated white colorable regions.
 10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the colorable regions are demarcated by darker outlines.
 11. A method according to claim 5, wherein the fabric article is a form of clothing of apparel.
 12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the colorable design comprises a plurality of demarcated white colorable regions.
 13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the colorable regions are demarcated by darker outlines.
 14. A method according to claim 6, wherein the fabric article is a form of clothing of apparel.
 15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the colorable design comprises a plurality of demarcated white colorable regions.
 16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the colorable regions are demarcated by darker outlines.
 17. A method according to claim 7, wherein the fabric article is a form of clothing of apparel.
 18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the colorable design comprises a plurality of demarcated white colorable regions.
 19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the colorable regions are demarcated by darker outlines.
 20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the colorable design is created by applying a special transfer to the surface of the fabric article. 